Oulu’s Participatory Budgeting’s vote has now begun – citizens get to decide what the city will implement with half a million euros 

There are 94 proposals up for vote, more than ever before. The proposals are targeted all over the city and promote everyday lives, comfort, and communality.

“The large number of proposals indicates how many good ideas Oulu’s citizens have to improve their home city. I believe that everyone will find something that interests them to vote for among the proposals”, city of Oulu’s Specialist Anne Kippola-Rinne states.

The vote is open September 7–29, 2026, on the Osallistu Oulu website (osallistu.ouka.fi). All citizens starting from middle schoolers get to vote.

The vote takes place on the Osallistu Oulu website

All voting proposals are found on the Osallistu Oulu website. You may explore the proposals and their budgets before casting your vote.

Voting requires strong identification with your bank information or mobile certificate. Students of Oulu’s schools may vote with their student accounts. You may use the website and vote in English as well.

More detailed voting instructions are listed on the Osallistu Oulu website. 

Voting assistance will also be available:

• Tuesday 8 September, 13.00–15.00, Oulu10 (Torikatu 10, 90100 Oulu)

The results will be posted on the website in October, once the votes have been counted and checked.

The city responded to all ideas

Citizens of Oulu sent a total of 444 ideas in January-February for how the city could spend 500 000 € to improve the city and the citizens’ wellbeing and comfort.

Implementable ideas that met the participatory budgeting criteria were further developed into voting proposals.

Even the ideas that did not progress to the vote have been processed and considered. The city has responded to all ideas on the Osallistu Oulu website.

The goal of participatory budgeting is to increase the citizens’ participation and influencing opportunities, as well as to increase dialogue between the city and its citizens. The city will implement the selected ideas in 2027.